Good article. I agree. Apple is the new Microsoft alright. Now it's M$ that's being innovative. Many may hate Win 8 or even WP8 for that matter but it's different. If M$ plays their cards right they could dent Apple when it comes to the tablet market. Something Android has yet to do. A tablet running a full blown version of Windows just blows the iPad out of the water. Cook won't be making any more jokes when a bunch of Windows tablets start popping up in logs. The ball is in M$ court now.

I'm keeping an eye on their new strategy. They keynoted a new direction at the same time of making the WP8 announcement. They want to embrace a more closed ecosystem similar to Apple's. The problem with this is, it works for Apple because they have 30 years of experience with this direction. Microsoft does not. It will be interesting to see how they and their clientele adapt.

Hint: I'm not. At least Windows 7 will be cheaper when Windows 8 comes out, because I am so not putting it on my next build. Maybe if it can prove itself, but for now, it's a very hard pill to swallow. Even if it IS good, I don't care, it's far too different than what I, as a windows person, is used to on a computer. But I know eventually I probably will come around to it, and may even like it more, but it's way too much, too soon for me.

I've been running the Windows 8 release candidate for the last couple of months, and much like the ribbon in Office 2007 the Metro interface does have a bit of a learning curve.....but it works fine...it's not difficult to use at all, and over time I think I will probably come to prefer it....

But, unlike Microsoft, Apple's software isn't everywhere and nearly on every computer. I believe that's where the difference will be, not just for entertainment or casual use. I'm speaking more on Windows 8. The unification of all their ecosystems will be a major step in the right direction for them, considering, love it or hate it, most people use PC's and they have the know how to do it right.

As for WP7, it has some short comings but, nothing that keeps it from being a phone. With WP8, it stands to be a great phone. If the core of the OS is the same as the desktop version, then they will have room to improve where they need to. On another note, despite some of the short comings, it's funny seeing a feature that Droid thinks is new and...(continues)

Sort of, but Apple has ALWAYS been Microsoft, the difference was in people's reactions. Microsoft bundles a web browser or a media player with their OS, and it's a crime. Apple bundles an OS with a PC, and a music service with an MP3 player (and designs the hardware so it can't be used with competing services), and nobody cares because ooh-she-so-pretty.

A supposed evil empire would offer to share their patents to avoid a lawsuit?

Apple - "Hey Samsung, we will share our patents if you share yours to avoid going to court over this, how does that sound?"Samsung - "No, I think we have a good shot at settling our differences in court..(Hey Dave, did you delete those emails with notes saying to copy the iPhone in pretty much every possible way?)

Except it wouldn't be cheaper. Last I heard Apple was trying to get the GS3 attached to this case, and that has sold at least, what 20+ Million?20M * $30 = $600M just by itself.Add in all the Tabs and other GS generations and the billion dollars still turns out to be the cheaper option. All this certainly hasn't negatively affected their sales either.

Really hasn't affected either companies sales, as most normal people really don't care.